Winter Exchange to Myrna!

Here is my winter exchange to Myrna of Still Living in Wonderland. It is called winter ice by Keslyn's and is done on 32 count ice blue linen in Midnight GAST. It is sparkly as it has Kreinik braid, Mill Hill seed beads and clear crystal beads as well. It is finished into a picture frame puffed out with batting underneath. I sent the easel stand with it to display it. Myrna says she loves it and I am very glad! You know how nervous one gets until the exchange gets there and the recipient likes it.

The second picture is of some of the goodies I sent. A slew of Crescent threads, 2 charts from Myrna's wish list, Kelmscott curious cat minder needle magnet, some Christmas socks and Altoids. Sorry about the glare from tin! I left some things out of the package which I still have to send. I was in such a hurry to get it out that I forgot a couple of things.

Also, a huge thank you to Staci of Snippets and Stash as I won her last giveaway of a Christmas ornament called believe by The Sampler Girl. It is adorable! It really made my day! Click here to see ornament ! Thanks again Staci!

Anyway, I am not sure I will be back here before New Years! So, I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year in 2009!

Seeing Double....

double ornaments that is. I am going to a stitch in tonight at my LNS and we had an option to do an ornament exchange. Many ideas floating in my head-but not enough time. So I had stitched Heart in Hands ornament from the 2002 JCS ornament magazine for me and I repeated it for the stitch in. It was quick and easy. Right up my alley-LOL. I attempted to use this finishing technique by Monique of My Mark Designs but I had a little trouble with my wire and beads-so I improvised with this look. I think it came out okay. I like the wire and bead look though.

Barbara from Mainely Stitching sent me a sweet beaded fob with a frog on it-to keep my stitching frogs away. It is lovely, but I can't get a decent picture of it. I love it though. Thanks Barbara for thinking of me! Thanks to all of you too for the lovely compliments regarding me and my family.

Anyway, I must run. I am making Pioneer Woman's apple dumplings for tonight and they are super yummy and quick. Go try them-you won't regret it though your hips might-LOL
Happy Stitching!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends out there celebrating the day! I am stuffed and slightly miserable at the present moment-but it was really good going down-LOL There are so many things I am thankful for-my health,kids, family, friends and my job. It is truly a blessing to be here and be alive to enjoy the day. Now, below you will see the people that I love and sometimes they drive me nutty-but hey that's a family!



It's me! Don't look too hard-your computer screen may break-LOL



It's Aunt Fran and Caleb



My Mama and my sister Fran(her baby! Yes, that is some slight jealousy you detect-LOL)



My sister's Fran and Paula-I am so proud of these two. Fran has a PharmD(doctorate in pharmacy) and Paula has a Master's Degree in Instructional Design and Leadership I think-I can never get it right! I am the oldest and Fran is the youngest. As you can see they got all the looks too!

African Woman Framed!

This is African Woman by Bleu de Soie framed! I decided to pull the small of amount of teal in her as the main mat color. She was very easy to pick colors and a frame for. The frame is not a plain frame-it looks like it has an African feel to it. The picture is clickable. I love having her hanging up in my home. Otherwise, it's a cool morning here in Florida about 40 degrees-but it's nice. The kids are off to school and I intend to make an appointment for beautification also known as a hair appointment!LOL Thank you all the great comments on my cappuccino finish! Have a great day!

Cappucino Finish!

Oh, I know I am a lazy blogger these days but here is cappuccino by LHN done on 32 count dirty linen. The picture is not so great- as I had a hard time getting a good picture of this. I hope to do all six of these and hang in my kitchen. Next up is frappucino. I tell you as much as I love these-the borders tend to be so tedious! Otherwise not much going on here. I now have two teenagers in my house-EEK! My daughter turned thirteen last Friday. Her birthday list included hair, nails, shopping, ear piercings for the third time, cake and crab legs! I say to her-you do know Christmas is next month! Good grief! I need a second job!

Speaking of Christmas-anyone start their shopping? I have-almost halfway done with the kids. I can't think of anything for the adults yet! Now, I am going to stitch! Have a great week and thanks for all your comments on my finishing. I appreciate them very much!

Blogs to visit!
Dawn of Golden Angel Works
Kendra of The Stitching Hour

More Monsterbubbles' Finishing!

Happy Saturday to all. It is absolutely gorgeous here in Northwest Florida today-a little cool and so sunny. I love days like this! Here is dye-a limited edition kit from Nashville by Monsterbubbles. A cute little kit-it came with a piece of white fabric that I dyed with some blueberry kool-aid that was also included in the kit. It made a great color didn't it? Anyway, I finished it into a hanger and inspired by Jinger's use of fun fir I just couldn't resist adding some to this one. Monsterbubbles is wild and wacky so it fit perfectly. I have this hanging on my buffet-so it's a little hard to see the fur(the picture is clickable and you can see it better). Anyway, not much else going on-have to go to work tonight to help support my habit and other addictions-LOL Have a great day!

Blogs to visit:
Cathy of No Sampler Left Behind
Hazel of Quietly Stitching

SOHM Flat Fold and a tag....

This is shine on harvest moon by Monsterbubbles. I finished it into a flat fold today. I used an ethnic print fabric that had some autumn like colors in it and it had colors that were similar to the stitched piece. I think it turned out pretty good. I had the hardest time with the bow-just could not settle on one-so I went with the raffia bow. Who knows that may change. Otherwise nothing else going on here. I have been stitching and I am currently trying to finish up hocus pocus by Lizzie Kate. I have been busy with the kids too-8th grade math is terrorizing me along with 6th grade science-LOL

Dianne at Dianne Rambling On tagged with me-so here we go. I won't tag anyone but if you want to play please feel free!

# 1 These are the rules for this meme:
# 2 Link to the person who tagged you.
# 3 Post the rules on your blog.
# 4 Write six random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself.
# 5 Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
# 6 Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog.
# 7 Let the tagger know when your entry is posted.

Six random things about me:

1. I am currently obsessed with Criminal Minds, watching the first season on DVD for the second time around in the last month-Shemar Moore gives me heart palpitations-LOL
2. I am addicted to Etsy -I visit it daily and drool.
3. All of a sudden I started disliking going to the movies-I can wait till it comes out on DVD.
4. I am the oldest of 3 girls.
5. I like the outdoors, but I absolutely hate yard work.
6. I was born in Greenville, South Carolina

Autumn Exchange from Myrna

I received my autumn seasonal exchange from Myrna yesterday and she really spoiled me! She stitched me signs of autumn by Bent Creek and finished it into a great post pinkeep. She also stitched me an adorable fall fob by Trail Creek Farm (now, I have a great excuse for more scissors-LOL). Beautiful stitching and finishing on both. Now onto the wonderful goodies of socks, a chart called autumn harvest by LHN along with the fabric, and dmc thread to complete it. She also sent some autumn fabric quarters, ribbon, autumn themed knick knacks and charm, candies for the kids and treats for my fur babies. I know this list seems endless, but Myrna was so incredibly generous that I still feel overwhelmed today. THANKS so much Myrna!

Blogs to visit:

Dianne of Dianne Rambling On
Angela of Hooked on Stitches
Michelle of Cozy Egg

An Exchange for Myrna and a RAK too.......

This is my autumn seasonal exchange for Myrna of Still Living in Wonderland . I stitched think autumn by Lizzie Kate and made it into a tall pinkeep. It it stitched on 32 ct fossil by Picture this Plus fabric and the fabric underneath it is also the backing fabric. I finished it of with a raffia bow. Myrna received it today and says she loved everything of which I am very happy to hear! The second picture of course are the extras I sent. Enjoy Myrna!

Then below is a very sweet RAK that I received from Tracy of Passion of My Needle .It is Rose Garden by Patricia Ann Designs. Tracy sent just because of encouraging comments that I have left on her bog. Well that was easy because Tracy does beautiful work! You should go by her blog and check out her stitching scrapbook. It's another wonderful way to display your stitching. Thanks so much Tracy!


Blogs to visit:
Terri of Confessions of a Stitch Wraith
Andrea of Deep Fried Cupcake .
Michelle of Ozark Sew and Sews .

My Cone Runneth Over Framed!

This my cone runneth over by Raise the Roof designs. A fun and colorful stitch that I did on a linen called sorbet if I recall correctly. Quite appropriate don't you think? I have this hanging in my kitchen and I really like the colors in it. Double matted in a dark mauve color and framed in a wide simple black frame.

I have been a terrible slacker in posting I know. Currently, I am working on completing my autumn exchange. I am also mulling over what I really want to work on and stitch. Too many other distractions have come into play lately like reading and work. Thanks for all the comments regarding the kids first day of school. They are settling in fairly well and we are adjusting to the school times. Thanks too for taking the time to visit me. Have a great week.

Edited to add: Oops, I forgot to list my blogs to visit. Here they are!
Cathey of Pumpkin Patch & Co.
Olenka of Olenka's Stitches
Paulette of Plum Street Samplers

Lizzie Kate HD and more......

My Lizzie Kate finish of housework can kill you. I think this is so funny as I feel this way a lot of the time. This is done on 32 count antique ivory. It's looks washed out from the flash. I changed the flowers to a burnt orange and the same eggplant color that the bottom words are done in. It was fun-but it seems like it took me forever to finish. Also, don't look too hard an error may slap you on the forhead-LOL



The above picture is Alexis and Brandon on the first day of school. They are together for the first time in a long time. Alexis is in the 6th and Brandon is in the8th grade this year. They go from 9:30 am to 4:30pm. I can't tell you how much I hate those times. All our school times changed this year as the busing changed in order to save money.



This is Caleb, he is in the 4th grade. My baby-doesn't he look sweet?



These fun threads were a surprise from Jinger of Rae of Sunshine Stitches . She has done a really cool flip flop piece with some fun thread for edging. Stop by her blog and see it. So she very generously sent me some-I can't wait to try it. Thank you Jinger!

Blogs to visit!

Yasmin of Yasmin's Stitching
Christina of X-stitch Christina
Goldie of Inside Gold's Mind

Thanks so much for the comments on my last finish and the kids. They were much appreciated. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Tropical storm Fay at the current moment is heading my way-so right now I expect a wet one. Happy Stitching!

Daydream finish and other things.......

Well I have been a busy little bee. Though I didn't post when I left, the kids and I went to South Florida last week and since I have back I have been doing a bang up job playing a bum. But, alas duty will call this week! This is my daydream finish by My Mark Designs . Please forgive any wrinkles. It's done on a 32 count Silkweaver solo that I love. This will be framed eventually to go into my boys room.



This is a picture of the kids the first day of our vacation. Don't they look fresh? Too bad they didn't have a picture of all of us on the Friday following this picture as we were all limping and hobbling out of Islands of Adventure. At that point the only adventure we wanted was our hotel room. LOL So, as you can see we went to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and two water parks. Disney's Blizzard Beach and Sea World's new water park called Aquatica. Both were great! Aquatica was not that big-but give them more time. I was so waterlogged that even the shower didn't appeal to me! But we had a great time and though there was a time or two or three that I could have reached out and touched the children in a special way-we made it through. I am most thankful that we made it to and from safely.

I want to say thank you to Michelle of Ozark Sew and Sews . She gifted me with sharing the love award. Thanks Michelle! Now I did not pass on any blog awards but I have decided to highlight a different blog or blogs when I post. So, I will be sharing the love in this way. So here you go and I hope you find someone that may be new to you!


Vee of the The Broken Needle

Lisa of Lisa V's Lounge

Lynda of A Cozy Little Place for Stitching

Anyway, that's it for me! Be back soon. Have a great week and happy stitching!

Awards Galore and a Finish Framed

Recently, I was given two lovely awards by my stitching friends. I am always amazed when other's think of me in these times. Why? Because recently I feel frustrated with my stitching efforts and I don't feel that I am really doing that much. However, I will get past it. Anyway, I have been remiss in acknowledging this due to the fact I have been working quite a bit and I am going on vacation next week woo hoo! So, I have been trying to get ready for that too.


This award was given to me by the following two ladies:
Dawn of Golden Angel Works
Noreen of Needle Caboodle



The Kreativ award was given to me by the following ladies!
Dani of Navy Stitching
Von of On the Dry Side
Andrea of Deep Fried Cupcake
Bette Reflections of a Desert Rat (edited to add Bette-this was an oops on my part! Sorry Bette!)

Now, I am supposed to pass these awards on to more kreative and brilliant bloggers-well here is where you will all hear a clucking in your ear. Yes, that would be me chickening out. Hey! I love you all-so it's hard for me to just pick seven. My google reader runneth over! So much so I am having a hard time keeping up with all the postings. That being said I appreciate the awards and thoughts behind them more than I can say! Thank you again!

Now for that framed finish that I was telling you about. I decided to frame my hope piece by Mary Kathryn . A good friend suggested it and I thought it was a great idea. So here it is framed!


I also want to say a big thank you for the many compliments on my exchange with Jinger!! Anyway, I must run. Take care and happy stitching!

Monochromatic Exchange with Jinger!

Awhile ago, Jinger and I decided to do a personal monochromatic exchange together. Our deadline was July and the other day was the great send off day. She sent me this gorgeous hanging ornament done on lavender linen with purple haze WDW. I am not sure of the pattern name-though I have seen it before. I love the fuzzy purple thread she used to make the hanger with. She also sent me some purple fabric quarters, two purple votive candles and a lovely purple notebook that I can use to keep up with my finished works. Everything was quite lovely! What made this exchange even more fun is that Jinger I both live in the same city! Thanks so much Jinger-this was fun!



This is what I sent Jinger. I did a pin keep/scissor pocket for her. I used a freebie pattern called Moroccan tile I believe. It is usually used as a biscornu. I did it in an Atalie silk thread called Bombay. It was stitched on 30 ct. R & R linen called parchment. I sent a couple of charts off Jinger's wish list along with some threads and a thread holder by Monique. It was a pleasure to put together this exchange for you!

Scatter freedom chart winner is.....

Michelle of Ozark sew and sews ! My DD drew the name for me this evening! Please email me your mailing address Michelle. Thanks everyone for participating!

Scatter Freedom ......

and peace. A very apt saying for this independence day.I hope everyone has had a wonderful day today if you are celebrating the holiday. I have been busy with the kids most of the day and only finished this tonight. I had hoped to finish it yesterday-but better late than never right? This was a fun quick stitch done on 19 count flax with the recommended Crescent colors. Though the dreaded frogs visited me a couple of times on this and I had to make an adjustment in the border(sigh)-so it's my own little unique piece. I plan on finishing this into a cube. I am hoping Shepherd's Bush will do a scatter love for Valentine's-for some reason I can totally picture that.

Anyway, now I need to finish Cappuccino by LHN. I am close on that. I want to stitch all six-but every time I say something like that then it doesn't get done. They are so pretty though. I have also been thinking about Halloween designs too, but as usual the mind is ticking along faster than the hands. I am really looking forward to the Just Cross Stitch magazine Halloween issue! That should be pretty cool.

Up next week-my personal monochromatic exchange with Jinger from Rae of Sunshine Stitches. I hope the rest of your week is a good one-I am going to tackle the treadmill-ugh! Happy stitching.

PS: This chart is up for grabs-if more than one person is interested I will draw a name on Monday July 7th at 5 pm.

Spring Exchange from Vonna

Today, I was speechless in delight as I received my spring exchange from Vonna! She sent me this gorgeous scissor keep case and the two pairs of scissors inside the case that you see below. The designer is Blackbird Designs and the pattern is called from me to thee in the Token's of Friendship book. Vonna used her own hand dyed fabric and chose her own dmc colors. Her finishing is wonderful and I just love everything about it. Thanks so much Vonna!

Spring Exchange for Carol

Here the last seasonal exchange 0f the 2007-2008 year for Carol . A design by Les grilles de Maryse called spring is in the air. It was a fun stitch and I finished it into a pinkeep with a dark purple fabric on the back. The pins I dyed with a green metallic like paint-a first. I also used a bow technique that Andrea from The Craft Room had highlighted on her blog. I have truly enjoyed stitching for Carol this past year and putting together these exchanges.

Other than that working on a personal exchange after much decision about thread colors as it is a monochrome exchange. I am also working on the house in small spurts-cleaning closets etc. The children are out of school and terrorizing their poor mama-already cries of "I'm bored", "I'm hungry" are floating into my little ears. Children anyone? anyone? LOL Thanks for all the comments on my daydream piece-I am continuing to work on that and hope to have a finish soon. Anyway I am off to be terrorized err loved some more. Happy stitching!

Stitching? What'sThat?

Yes, that title says it all! Not much stitching going on and I don't know why. I just can't seem to settle on anything for long. I still want to stitch-it just seems to be in a meandering kind of way. This is daydream by My Mark Designs . I am doing it on a Silkweaver Solo that I just love! I am going to put this in my boys room-because they do love to daydream! Also, I realized that it was the only room in my house that had none of my stitching permeating it(had to rectify that-LOL). Their room is blue and I think this will look really cool on their walls. Other than that, I do have a finish-but I can't show you as it is for an exchange. Hopefully next week.

Anyway, you may not see me much-not because I don't want to, but I don't have a whole lot of stitching going on. I also hope to working on some house projects too which will also cut into my stitching time. However the house needs some of my attention. Anyway, I hope your Memorial Day weekend is wonderful! God Bless!

A Sweet RAK and a Finish too!

First off, I received this sweet little biscornu from Ranae of The Needle and I. It is autumn biscornu by Helga Mandel. Isn't it cute? I love receiving surprises in the mail. She also sent me a skein of dmc variations. Thank you so much Ranae!

Next up is a finish called dye by Monsterbubbles! It was a limited edition kit released at Nashville this year. It came with a little piece of white fabric and some blueberry kool-aid. I dyed the fabric with the kool-aid first in this case and then I stitched. I think it came out cute-though you don't get much fabric. It is meant to be finished into a pinkeep. The kit does come with seed beads for the making of the pinkeep. This was a fun little stitch.



Lastly, I want to thank you for all the lovely birthday wishes and comments on my photos. You all know how to make a girl feel good! I hope everyone has a great week!

Lordy Lordy looks who's forty.........two!

Yes, that would be me you see above! Today is my 42nd birthday! I thought I would show you all what I looked like as an infant. The first picture is of me at 3 months of age. In the second set, I have no idea how old I am-the pictures say Nov 67 which would make me over a year old-but I don't think I am that old in the pictures. The last picture is of me and my grandmother. The other most important woman in my life besides my mom. Unfortunately, she died many years ago. I am not sure how old I am in that picture-at least a year old I would guess. Anyway, I hope you will enjoy looking at my pictures! Life is hard these days and so many things are happening but I am so grateful to be here alive and well today! It is truly a blessing. Thank you too my friends for helping make my life special!

Thistle Pinkeep!

This is thistle bird by Praiseworthy Stitches-one of the whimsical bird patterns. Now if any of you have seen this design you will notice it is not stitched as the original. This pattern gave me a hard time and at one point I thought I would just cut my stitched piece up with my scissors. In the end sanity prevailed and and I ended up modifying it to make myself happy. It is missing a couple of little motifs and the original pattern has somewhat of a diagonal border and you see mine is all straight. Cute pattern-but never to be stitched again!

And the winner's are......

Prize #1 of the Carrie's Threads goes to Sally of Salster 74 Hobbies (Sally, please email me your snail mail address!)

Prize #2 of the my needles work goes to Ranae of The Needle and I

Prize #3 of the LHN charts goes to Karoline of Karoline's Corner

Congratulation's to the winner's and thanks to all of you who left comments regarding my blog anniversary and participated in the drawing. All prizes were awarded using the random number generator. I have certainly enjoyed having this giveaway as I have gotten to meet some new people. Which is a wonderful thing! Now, that some of you have delurked-don't become a stranger! Leave me a comment or drop me a line just to say hello! If you have a blog-expect a visit from me soon. Many thanks from me again!

Blog Anniversary Drawings

On April 17th, I will be celebrating two years of blogging. It seems I just started! It has been a wonderful two years of meeting and making friends. Friendships that I hope will last a very long time! Daily, I am inspired by your fantastic projects, beautiful stitching and your willingness to give so much of yourselves to other's. Now, since I am a slow stitcher I have decided to give stash. So. if you will leave a comment to this post from now until 11:59 pm (central US time) April 16th I will enter your name in the drawing. I will pull the prizes in the order they are listed below on April 17th and post the winners. Anyone may join the fun-just make sure I will have a valid way of contacting you once the drawing is complete. Good Luck!



Prize #1-20 Carrie's Threads



Prize #2 LHN's My Needles Work Kit (comes with threads shown)



Prize #3 Bless Our Home and Home of a Needleworker patterns by LHN

African Woman Finished!

Finally finished African Woman the other day! So, a little dancing here in Florida! I don't know why I was dragging my feet about doing her feet!LOL I finished her in my Tuesday night stitching group. Hi to Sherri if you are reading this post! Anyway, she is by French designer Bleu de Soie . This designer does quite a few things-not just ethnic designs. So, you should take a look see-you may find something you like! AW is done on 32 count apple brown bindy with dmc thread. The lovely thing about her she is done with full cross stitches. The next picture is also by the same designer and it's the design I going to stitch as the companion piece to AW. This is African woman and child. I haven't quite decided on the fabric for her yet. So she is not started! Could I have been that skinny after childbirth?



This next piece is by another French designer called Corinne Leroy and the pattern is called African Beauties. I only have a little to show as I just started. They are being done on Silkweaver limited edition 32 ct tawny sparkle. A lovely creamy opalescent with mottled rose or mauve through it. It is being stitched with dmc variations 4130.



Now, if you are still here reading, this month I will have been blogging for two years on the seventeenth of April. So, on the tenth I will post a couple of giveaways with the winners being drawn on my blog anniversary date. So be on the lookout for that! Have a great week and happy stitching!